How to Open a Yahoo Messenger Private Message

Yahoo! Messenger is an instant messaging service that allows you to have private conversations with other Messenger users. After you download the application to your computer desktop, you need to know how to add friends and begin a private message. If you know your friend's email address or Yahoo! Messenger ID, you can add her to your Yahoo! Messenger friend list. After your friend accepts the Friend Request, you can share files, video chat, play games and voice chat through a microphone or a PC-to-PC call.

Choose a Messenger List group where you want to include the person. Yahoo! Messenger can divide your friends according to predetermined categories, such as Friends or Family. Enter an introduction and click "Next." Click "Finish" to add the person to your Yahoo! Messenger friend list.

Opening a Private Message

Double-click the person's name on your Yahoo! Messenger list.

Type a message in the bottom box of the private-message window.

Click "Send" or press "Enter" to send the private message.

Tips & Warnings

You can send private messages to any friend that you add to your Yahoo! Messenger, regardless of whether the friend has accepted the request.

If the friend is not signed in to Yahoo! Messenger, your friend will receive your private message the next time he signs on.

If you want to open a private message from a previous chat conversation, click "Contacts" and click "Message Archive." Click the name of the contact and click the date of the conversation. The chat history appears on your screen.